Rhett
The next morning,Ari’s phone woke us both up from a dead sleep.She snatched it up and hit the button toanswer.
“Hello?”
Even without it being on speaker, Esme’s voice came through loud and clear.“Security hasn’t been able to find Jan.There’s no signofher.”
“Shit,” I muttered, my brain roaringtolife.
“But that’s not why I’m freaking the fuck out.Erik didn’t show up for our Soul Cycle class.Henevermisses.He’s not answering his phone either.I’m heading to his apartmentrightnow.”
“Wait, what?”Ari sputtered.“No.Ifyou’re—”
I snatched the phone out of herhand.“Esme?”
“Yeah?Who the hellisthis?”
“Hennessy.”
“Oh my God, if I weren’t losing my shit right now, I’d be freaking out over the fact that you’re clearly in bedtogether.”
“Not important.What’s important is that you stay the fuck away from Erik’s apartment.Is there a manager you can call?Someone who can checkonhim?”
“I already called and they didn’t answer.I have to go checkmyself.”
Ari rubbed her eyes, turning them red.“Don’tlether—”
I held up a hand.“Esme, listen to me.If something happened to Erik, what matters most is making sure nothing happenstoyou.”
“You can’t stop me from going.He’s my best friend,dammit!”
I knew from her determined tone that nothing I could say would change her mind, so I had to secure her safety another way.“If you’re going to his place, don’t go near his door without the manager.Wait for someone to walk up there with you.If there’s any sign of tampering with the lock or door, get back in your car and call the cops.I’ll check on things from my end and callyouback.”
“But—”
“Call themanager.”
“Tell her I said she better not go up there by herself,” Ari said, her tonepanicked.
“Your boss forbids you to do this by yourself, and she doesn’t care if you have a key.”I was guessing about the last part, but it was a safeassumption.
“Okay.Fine.But I’m going.I’ll call as soon as I getthere.”
“Good.We’ll bewaiting.”
When I ended the call, Ari clutched the covers to her chest.“Oh my God.Do youthink...”
Snatching my phone from the nightstand, I dialed Heath.“I don’t know, but your brother better have an update, because this shitain’tcool.”
Heath answered on the first ring.“What’shappening?”
“Two of Ari’s employees are missing.Where are things at on your end?The Feds bringingCarlosin?”
A moment of heavy silence stretched for too long before he answered.“Not yet.They’re trying to do this smart because they want him toflip,and—”
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.The Feds really think he’s going to betray his whole family?And for what?Fuckingidiots.”
“I can’t make them bring him in.Youknowthat.”